The Milpitas Police Department is pleased to announce that Dennis Kraft has been selected as our 2011 Employee of the Year. Officer Kraft is a police officer assigned to the Traffic Safety Unit of the Milpitas Police Department. In addition to his assigned enforcement duties, Kraft is a leader in developing new services and enhancing programs already in place. In his 29-year career, Officer Kraft has consistently improved the safety of our residents.

Officer Kraft initiated the child safety seat program and offers free child safety seat inspections and installations to citizens of Milpitas. He has installed hundreds of child safety seats since he started the program in 2005, and is responsible for preventing countless unnecessary injuries and deaths to children in our community. Officer Kraft teaches education/diversion classes to children caught riding their bicycles without a helmet. This service diverts kids from the criminal justice system, and instead instructs them and their parents on bicycle safety measures while providing free bicycle helmets on an as-needed basis.

"I've had the happy privilege of serving with Dennis during his entire career," stated Chief of Police Dennis Graham. "Year by year he outdoes himself, so committed that the service he provides rises to a level I've rarely seen in my 30 years of law enforcement. Dennis sets the example of excellence for all of us."